Russia's barley imports in January were 20,400 tonnes, compared with none a year ago, official customs data showed on Thursday. Imports followed a shortage at home caused by severe drought. In December, Russia imported 27,600 tonnes of barley, slightly less than in November and none in December 2009.
The Russian Grain Union, a powerful industry lobby, believes that Russian grain imports will be 200,000 tonnes in the whole of the 2010/11 crop year ending on June 30, while SovEcon analysts expect imports to reach 1 million tonnes. Russia imposed a ban on grain exports from August 15, 2010 to July 1, 2011 to curb rising prices after the worst heat-wave on record. Wheat exports fell to 11.8 million tonnes in the whole of 2010 from 16.8 million in 2009 as a result.